Page 79 of Reign

“Why? Because I’m a prince?” Jeff shook his head. “I used to think that was the problem, that my titles were getting in the way. Until you started dating acrown prince,Nina. You do realize that he’s the heir, right? He’s even more a prince than I am!”

Some part of Nina wanted to laugh at the sheer absurdity of this conversation. Were she and her royal ex-boyfriend seriously debating levels ofprinceliness?

She leaned against the wall, clutching her application toher chest. “We were never going to work becauseDaphnewas always in the way. Not your titles.” She looked Jeff in the eye as she added, “You were always going to have to choose between us.”

And in the end, he’d chosen Daphne.

Jeff winced. “I’m sorry. For a while there, I had hoped there was a way we could all get along.”

Hadn’t she hoped the very same thing, back when she’d believed in Daphne’s friendship? Nina had told herself that she would find a way to keep them both—Jeff and Daphne.

Jeff stared at her as if he knew precisely what she was thinking. “It seemed like you and Daphne were becoming friends. What happened?” When Nina said nothing, he added clumsily, “Whatever it was, I hope it wasn’t because of me.”

“Oh, Jeff” was all Nina could say.

Of course it was because of him. Didn’t he understand by now? It wasalwaysbecause of him.

His eyes met hers, and she wished he would just stop looking at her like that. “I miss you, Nina. I mean—I miss having you in my life.”

“I miss you, too.” The words came out of her unwillingly, like a breath stolen from her chest.

“Do you think we could ever be friends again?”

Typical Jeff. He had always asked for too much, tried to make everyone happy, tried to have it all.

How many times had she and Jeff tried to go back, retrace their steps, and be “just friends”?

Nina blinked to hide the tears in her eyes. “I’ll always care about you, but I’m not sure I can be friends.”

Sadness flickered over his expression, but he nodded. “I understand.”

“Congratulations, by the way. On the wedding.”

Nina started to turn aside, but Jeff stepped into her path. For a wild instant she thought he would kiss her.

She hated that a part of her wanted him to.

“About your essay,” Jeff said awkwardly. “I know you probably don’t want my opinion, but it should be a little more personal.”

“You read my essay?”

“Sorry. It was there in the printer tray, and I just…” He held his hands out in apology. “It’s so academic, Nina.”

“This is an academic program,” she said tersely.

“Sure, but there’s so much more to you than your thoughts on Gothic narrators. You should talk about your love of books! Like that time you stole a library book and racked up five hundred dollars in fines.”

“I didn’t steal it; I just forgot to return it!”

“Or that time we were kids and decided to build a fort. Sam and I went off looking for pillows, and by the time we came back you had already built a fort out of books.”

“Books are clearly better! They’re so much more protection against the elements.”

A flicker of amusement shone in Jeff’s eyes. “What elements, Nina? We were inside.”

“Theimaginaryelements!”

“That’s exactly my point,” he insisted. “This application makes you sound brilliant, which you obviously are. But the departmental committee should also know that you’re passionate, and creative, and…” He fumbled for the right word before finally saying, “And whimsical.”